Young scientist to start production of diabetes medicine made from eucalyptus plant

National Science and Technology Awards’ Young Scientist of the Year 2016, Dr Denise Daley (right), showcases her natural skincare products to students at the recently held Science in the Gardens event at the Hope Botanical Gardens, St Andrew.

Scientist Dr Denise Daley has used her passion for plants to develop a line of neutraceuticals to be used in the treatment of diabetes.

Through her research on the eucalyptus plant, she has created food items and supplements, which will assist thousands of Jamaicans suffering from the chronic condition.

These include cooking oil, teas, margarine, and supplements, including Tincture.

For her innovation, Daley was named the 2016 Young Scientist of the Year at the National Science and Technology Awards held last November.

A pharmacognosist at the University of Technology (UTech), Daley formulated and did product development for functional foods and neutraceuticals from the compounds that were isolated from the eucalyptus plant. In 2012, she won Innovator of the Year for the extracted compounds.

With the compounds now patented, she says “we wanted to make them more available to Jamaicans who have diabetes and hypertension”.

She tells JIS News that she is now looking at local manufacturers to start producing on a large scale, after which she will begin marketing and distribution.

The young scientist tells JIS News that she has always had a passion for plant research.

This led her to join a diabetes plant research group after the completion of her bachelor’s degree.

“My grandmother has diabetes, so that was part of the drive, as well, to get stuff done, to find out more about folklore plants that are used for diabetes,” she notes.

Daley says she currently does the oil blends for her grandmother, as well as some of the teas and the margarine, which she makes at home.

She recommends that persons with diabetes use natural products to assist in normalising the blood sugar. She, however, promotes integrated medicine, that is using natural items along with traditional medication.

In addition to diabetes products, Daley has also developed a line of natural skincare and haircare products, infused with essential oils and herbs, which were on display at the Science in the Gardens event at the Hope Botanical Gardens, St Andrew in February.

The products, under the brand Nasore, include handmade soaps, hair and body oils, as well as lip balms.

“It was originally a hobby, which I started to share with friends, which eventually became a business,” Daley tells JIS News.

“Each soap has a different character and is infused with natural herbs and essential oils such as moringa, neem, tea tree oil, grape seed oil, turmeric, flax seed and coconut cream,” she shares.

The products are ideal for the treatment of eczema and acne, skin hydration, exfoliation, relaxation, and evening the tone and improving elasticity.

The young innovator is proud of the natural products and is now eager to get them to market.